Happy Birthday, Steven Sondheim

[filkertom]

On this date in 1930.

If you could play any Sondheim role, which would you pick? For me, Sweeney Todd. Or Booth. If I was thin again. And had it transposed to my key. Unlikely, so Guiteau. Maybe Pseudolus.

Comments

[jedilora.livejournal.com]

The Witch, Into the Woods. All the way. Not that I could ever measure up to Bernadette, but god, the ROLE.

[tibicina.livejournal.com]

I have to choose /one/? But, but. but.... Hmm.. The Witch. There are others I love, but if I could only have one, The Witch.

[kshandra]

Get cadhla to tell you the story of the second time she played Little Red.

[morpheus0013.livejournal.com]

The Balladeer. I've wanted to play The Balladeer since I was 14 years old.

I wouldn't mind a turn at being Franklin Shepherd or Charley Kringas, either.

Forced to choose for my own gender...The Baker's wife, I think.

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

Hm. The only reason I would see not to play the Balladeer is if they do what they did in the last revival, and have that actor later play Oswald. But then, I'm very fond of the late Laurie Beechman as the Storyteller in Dreamcoat.

[morpheus0013.livejournal.com]

Yeah, my desire to play The Balladeer stems from the original album. While I like what they did with the role in the last revival, it'd be pretty hard for me to pass as Oswald. Though I also suspect that half of the reason I liked the Balladeer/Oswald idea was because I'm very fond of NPH.

Did I know Laurie Beecham had died? *runs off to Google*

[morpheus0013.livejournal.com]

Oh! And I forgot J. Bowden Hapgood. The idea of getting to do "Everybody Says Don't" makes me happy.

[pocketnaomi.livejournal.com]

Company. Joanne.

[kightp.livejournal.com]

*raises hand* Me, too. Especially if it could be my friend John Doyle's revival version. "The Ladies Who Lunch" is among my two or three favorite Sondheim songs.

Of course, I would be hampered by the fact that I can't sing, but still ...

[scifantasy.livejournal.com]

Pseudolus, hands down.

(To a lesser extent, Bobby from Company, but that's mostly because I like how he's described in "Side By Side By Side.")

[drzarron.livejournal.com]

Hmm.. Booth? Pseudolus? naw.. always wanted to do Bernardo..

"The Jets are gonna get it.. TO NIGHT!"

[tomreedtoon.livejournal.com]

For me, it'd have to be Sam Bick. The angry, betrayed middle-class guy, muttering threats to Richard Nixon into his tape recorder, and wearing a dirty Santa Claus suit. In the original cast recording of Assassins he lead the song "Another National Anthem" - and although I never saw it, I think he led the charge driving the Balladeer off the stage.

(In my dreams, it would be a socially conscious, pretentious type like Madonna playing the Balladeer, and Bick and the other Assasins wouldn't drive her off the stage - for the most visual effect they would drive her over the edge of the stage and into the orchestra pit. That would make a memorable scene for the video presentation.)

[roane.livejournal.com]

Without a doubt: Mrs. Lovett. Because it's a rule: I have to follow in Angela Lansbury's footsteps (I've already done Pirates of Penzance ;)). As long as I don't end up playing an elderly writer/detective.

[wiliqueen.livejournal.com]

The Beggarwoman or the Witch.

[markbernstein.livejournal.com]

Oh, there's a list. Let's take in chronologically by show.

As it happens, Ann Arbor Civic is doing "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" next year, and unless conflicts absolutely forbid it, I'll be at auditions. Pseudolus as first choice, of course, but I'd be OK with Hysterium, Senex, or Marcus Lycus.

I'm now too old to play Bobby in "Company", which is a shame, because "Being Alive" and "Barcelona" are wonderful.

For "Follies", I'd go with Buddy, just for the joy of singing "Buddy's Blues".

Right at the top of the list, next to Pseudolus, is Fredrick Egerman, of "A Little Night Music". "Now" is just brilliant.

The Baker in "Into The Woods".

Sweeney Todd, except that I probably can't hit the range.

Again, I'm probably too old for either male lead in "Merrily We Roll Along", but I love "Franklin Shepard, Inc.", and "Our Time".

[admnaismith.livejournal.com]

Sweeney Todd. Definitely Sweeney Todd. I flatter myself that I could actually pull off the Epiphany.

Second choice, Riff. If only I could dance. Maybe it could be like the movie, in which they switch the songs around so that Riff does "Officer Krupke" instead of "Cool".

However, in my dreams, I'm the character type for Miles Gloriosus (as opposed to Miles Vorkosigan).

[youngcurmudgeon.livejournal.com]

Anita, West Side Story. (Hey, if Natalie Wood can be Maria ...)

[laurel-potter.livejournal.com]

This is assuming, of course, that I'd suddenly, magically aquire enough talent to do it?

I haven't seen any of his plays (OMG, sacriledge!) except a junior high production of "Into the Woods". But I've heard about "Sweeny Todd", so maybe the butcher's (?) wife? The Angela Lansbury role?

[sarekofvulcan.livejournal.com]

*bites tongue hard to avoid spoilers*

[ladyotterfae.livejournal.com]

Baker's Wife, Into the Woods.

I'd love to think I could pull off the Witch, someday, but Baker's Wife suits my voice a lot better, and it's a great role. :)

[jcw-da-dmg.livejournal.com]

The judge in Sweeney Todd, so I can sing "Pretty Women".

I have played Pseudolus. Professionally.

[sarekofvulcan.livejournal.com]

I'd like to play Sweeney, too, but it's more likely that I'd be able to carry off Judge Turpin, although my voice is a bit too high for him.

[batyatoon]

Probably the Witch. Because ... yeah.

Though if I'm not limited by gender, playing Booth would be awesome.

(Also? I think you'd make a kickass Pseudolus.)

[technocracygirl.livejournal.com]

I have wanted to play the Balladeer ever since I first heard the OCA of Assassins. Oh, the snark, oh the pathos, oh the misguided idealism. "The deliv'ry boy's on Wall Street/And the usherette's a rock star."

But I'm also very fond of Fay Apple form Anyone Can Whistle. Between the title song, "Cherchez la Femme," and "See What it Gets You," there are enough fabulous songs to keep me happy. Plus, she's a skeptic, which is always nice. The leaking drainpipe rant is lovely too.